Maria's POV:

An hour has passed.

We were now inside a cave system, and I could see why things had turned out the way they did. It seems some guys from that ancient trap escaped before me and hid in this dimmed area for whatever reason.

And it confirmed, I saw them once again, the monsters these adventurers called Blood-Steel Wolves.

Most of their skin was covered in steel-like spikes instead of fur, and other spaces were for protruding, bulging, and steaming veins and arteries.

They're the same as those monsters who chased me.

"What a warm welcome to greet us,"

Jonas said, a wry smirk on his face. A line of wolf monsters had stopped our group in its tracks around halfway up.

We still had a long way to go till we reached the innermost cave area. Despite this, we already encountered a group of them who were most likely working as lookouts.

"Vampire kid, get back. There are twenty of them, huh… Elmo, Moa, can you take care of eight? "

"Of course!"

They instantly took up combat stances when I took a step back. And I knew they were the types of people who wanted to be in the spotlight and be admired, which is why they wanted me to accompany them.

Honestly, I don't know what their individuality is inside and deeper in their hearts—it was as if they didn't know themselves fully yet, so I find it difficult to detect the malicious intentions within their emanating auras. They will do whatever they want on the spot, so I need to be cautious of them. I am just a kid in their eyes.

"Oh... cooperation to maximize mutual benefits, I see... “

The red-haired leader, Jonas, took the right flank, while Elmo took the left. Moa took a position behind Elmo.

Let's see what you've got.

I stood peacefully with my arms folded, watching these highly-rated adventurers. Of course, I intended to assist them if necessary, but if they were the kind of people who struggled with a group of these metals, they had little hope of defeating that Magma Wolf King. I could easily sever them with air cuts at the time.

I knew I couldn't cut a stone even with this sword because I have the small physical body of a child.

I thought that as long as I could cast these spells and have confidence, I wouldn’t have any problems, right? But what if there are enemies that can silence me or steal these skills?

"estadoko"

-------------------------------••----------------------------

♌Race: White Mystic Fox

⛎Lineage: Ancestral Genesis

♈Age: 10,081 y/o

♎Level: 100 (MAX)

♒Status: Eternal Youth (Blessing)

♍Might: 100 (MAX)

♐Arcane: 100 (MAX)

♓Finesse: 100 (MAX)

♑Magic Arts:

--Time Dilation(S)

--Lightning Speed(S)

--Instantaneous Step(S)

--Survivalist Instinct(S)

--Dimensional Leap(S)

--Information Broker(A)

--Predator's Pride(A) new!

--Landing Strike(C)

--Air Cut(D)

♏Titles:

--Progenitor Of The White Foxes(SSS)

--Mystic Being(SS)

--Nature's Friend(S)

--The Flash(S)

--One Speed(S)

--Forest Deity(A)

--Primal King Of The Jungle(A) new!

--Fruit Gourmand(A)

--White Fox Being(A)

--Walking Corpse(B)

--Scavenger(B)

--Marathoner(C)

Level Progression:|❤🧡💛💚💙| 100%

--------------------------------------------------------

I felt ambivalent about the maximum stat. Does it mean I have already reached my maximum potential limit? No, this isn't enough! I barely made it through that nearly-death situation, and you tell me I need to accept my limitations!? No more room for improvement? No way! This is going to be the end of my journey! What's wrong with this system? reducing my chances of achieving my goals!?

Damn it. So unfair... huh wait,

"Predator's Pride and Primal King of the Jungle, how did I acquire these things?"

Whatever, there may be a way to surpass this limitation of mine, like limit-breaker... hmm... there's something wrong with the status board... oh!

I got it! Two notification messages behind the board!

Accept to evolve? Yes/No>

Yes, without a doubt!

I clicked the button and the platforms vanished into thin air.

I felt a sudden change in my body, most noticeably behind my back, where my single tail doubled! And I gained sharp fangs! My body became tougher and lighter than it was before, which reveals some muscle bumps on both my arms and legs. However, my brain and senses became sharper as well.

So embarrassing! I want to punch the programmer who created this RPG system!

Calm, calm, why expect too much? This is reality and not a 2D game, you know?

Yes, yes... I know that pretty well, but still, why the heck is the notification bar is in behind the status board?!

Oooh... Inhale... Exhale...

"Hey, Maria! What's wrong? Tell us if you're getting attacked there! "

The voice came from Jonas, and it looked like these adventurers were gaining an upper hand against those hordes.

"Nothing to worry about, Brother Jonas!"

I replied and chanted once more. Oh, I'm so excited!

If I deduce the outcome of my evolution, having an extra tail means I've broken the limitation, and every level has three randomly assigned points. Is this the case for everyone else?

"estadoko~”

-------------------------------••----------------------------

♌Race: White Mystic Fox

⛎Lineage: Ancestral Genesis

♈Age: 10,081 y/o

♎Level: 109

♊Current Evolution: Two-Tailed Fox

♒Status: Eternal Youth (Blessing)

♍Might: 110

♐Arcane: 107

♓Finesse: 110

♑Magic Arts:

--Time Dilation(S)

--Lightning Speed(S)

--Instantaneous Step(S)

--Survivalist Instinct(S)

--Dimensional Leap(S)

--Information Broker(A)

--Predator's Pride(A)

--Landing Strike(C)

--Air Cut(D)

♏Titles:

--Progenitor Of The White Foxes(SSS)

--Mystic Being(SS)

--Nature's Friend(S)

--The Flash(S)

--One Speed(S)

--Forest Deity(A)

--Primal King Of The Jungle(A)

--Fruit Gourmand(A)

--White Fox Being(A)

--Walking Corpse(B)

--Scavenger(B)

--Marathoner(C)

Level Progression:|❤ | 23%

--------------------------------------------------------

“Hmm… I wanna try this one…”

“Woohoo!"

Wow, that's so big! A higher version of Blood-Steel Wolf, I presume?

A solitary Blood Steel Wolf dashed down from the large hole above, charging at Jonas. And just as it was about to jump up and fly...... huh... it can fly?

“Time Dilation~”

Jonas managed to get around its side. He was also quietly putting his sword back into its sheath, which he had drawn before anybody could see it. I could barely catch a glimpse of it.

The superior Blood Steel Wolf he had passed through abruptly came to a halt, and bubbly blood poured from its whole body.

If it hadn’t been for time dilation, which slowed the passage of time by one-fourth on my perspective, I would have missed his lightning-fast swordsmanship and the acuity that went with it.

"Ohh…"

I bet it would kill me in the instant before I realized it. Even I couldn’t disguise my amazement at his swordsmanship, as he slashed the thing multiple times in such a short time.

"A swordsman in real life"—"

I felt compelled to compliment the adventurer known as Jonas. Given that he was wielding a replica of a mythical sword and the swordsmanship he displayed just now, I was certain that he was indeed a genuine hero.

"Haa!"

On the other hand, Elmo was doing well too. He thrust his elongated spear from afar and pierced an oncoming monster. While another one pounced on him as he was bringing out his spear, Moa, who was standing behind him, spread her hands and shot a fireball spell.

Yeah, your typical fireball.

It was well-executed teamwork.

"Wahaha, Maria kid, I’ll show you something good."

Elmo said as he turned to face me amid the battle. With a smile on his handsome face, he turned around and glanced directly at an approaching Blood Steel Wolf.

"Hmm..."

Surely, he'll capture any maiden's heart. He reminded that boy in elementary who played me with such an annoying sparkling smile.

And something wrong with Moa, aren't they couples? But he showed much amazing yet cringe moves which I couldn't take it anymore.

He struck the oncoming monster in the same way he had just done, just as I was considering what different attack pattern he would do. The Blood Steel Wolf burst into flames the following moment.

"Wait... their blood is flammable?"

As the monster writhed in anguish, Elmo drew out his spear and gazed at me provocatively.

"Uhm... Yes, you’re quite skilled."

"Of course I am!"

As soon as I complimented him, Elmo turned back to fight the remaining monsters. As I observed Elmo from behind, I stood behind the stalagmite and my hand on the handle behind me after I untied it from my waist. To prepare me, I make sure I always chant time dilation and survivalist instinct if some monsters decided to attack me.

“HOWL!“

The more monsters were scorched by the spear’s strikes, the less interested I became. One by one, the pathetic wolf monsters burst into flames.

"Fire Ballista!"

The magician girl standing behind Elmo didn't miss a beat. The mass of flames resembling a large-sized bullet released from Moa's wrinkled wand soared and froze in mid-air, then gathered great momentum and crashed into the monster.

"Grirr!"

"Howl!!!"

The large bullet of fire deftly penetrated the Blood Steel Wolf.

Based on the way she expertly regulated her strong mind without sacrificing casting speed or accuracy, I deduced that Moa's main power was likely fire-focused solely on meditation.

The combination of Moa’s spells and Elmo’s Fire-Starter Spear truly lived up to their name.

On the other hand, despite murdering the superior one with the sword he’d obtained from his master, their leader, Jonas, showed no sign of utilizing spells at all.

He hid too many secrets, huh?

I wasn’t sure whether he was hiding his Trump cards or simply didn’t use any at all.

After all, there are instances when a name is used solely to deceive.

An adventurer party’s enemies are not only limited to monsters. There were times when they had to deal with other parties, depending on the time and place. If a party’s weakness could be inferred from its name alone, it couldn’t be dubbed awesomeness. But at least for me, the meteor impact didn’t appear to be that grandiose.

"Brother Jonas, at what rating is your party?"

As the adventurers were slaying, or more accurately, slaughtering, I asked him.

Since accepting the invitation to subjugate these monsters, I had already deduced that they weren’t your average adventurers. However, given how quickly they eliminated this swarm of ferocious Blood Steel Wolves, they exceeded my expectations.

“Did I forget to mention it? We’re Master-Level Adventurers. However, if all goes as planned and we finish our task, we will advance to Grandmaster Level. "

From what he said discussed earlier to me, there are four hierarchical levels, namely: low, middle, high, and super.

For the low-tier category, the starting point for the adventurers is Rookies, then Amateurs, and Apprentice levels.

As for the middle-tier categories, there are regular, veteran, and challenger.

Finally, for the high-tier category, master, grandmaster, and champion-level.

Jonas didn't tell me about the super-tier category. I guess those are composed of legendary people?

Does that mean they're two steps away from being legends?

"No, maybe not..."

“What's with that condescending tone?“

Elmo asked, irritated.

"I apologize if I sounded that way. However, I do indeed admire your achievements. I believe you have the ability to advance to champion-level one day.

"Hmph! Of course, we will! "

This handsome man was taken aback since he hadn’t expected me to raise my head and speak such things so frankly.

Elmo chose his standard routine and triumphantly puffed up his chest after a brief period of deliberation on how to reply. Regardless, they are motivated by praise coming from a kid,

Jonas and Moa smiled wryly at his antics, while I was confronted with this immature guy face to face.